Brandie

LOOKING FOR A STEADY, LOYAL COMPANION?

Meet Brandie, an 11-month-old fully papered ABCA Tri-Red Border Collie bursting with joyful energy and a deep desire to connect. In just two months with BCSAVE, she’s transformed from a shy, outdoor-only pup into a bouncy, affectionate, and endlessly curious companion. Brandie greets every new discovery—whether it’s a toy, a treat, or a car ride—with full-body wiggles and contagious enthusiasm. And when the day winds down, she’s happiest curled up next to her human, snuggling in bed or resting her head in your lap.

Once considered the last of her litter because she was skittish around strangers, Brandie is now learning how to trust, love, and thrive—and she’s ready for a forever home that can keep building on her amazing progress. Her foster family says she’s the perfect second dog, a lovable baby sister, and that they wish they could keep her—because she puts a smile on their face every day and just makes life better for everyone.

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Personality

Brandie came into rescue as the last of her litter—a soft, skittish, and quiet girl. In her two months with BCSAVE, she’s blossomed into a curious, affectionate, and increasingly confident companion. Initially wary of men and new environments, she has since built trust with her foster dad and can warm up to new male visitors with time and space. She still bonds more quickly with women but continues to make consistent progress around all people.

Around people she’s comfortable with, Brandie is a silly, joyful girl who’s always smiling and finds excitement in the simplest things. She’s very excitable and thinks doing just about anything with her human is SUPER FUN! She adores her foster brothers—she thinks they’re SUPER COOL—and plays the role of baby sister perfectly, often mimicking their behaviors and tagging along for every activity.

She wants nothing more than to be just like her foster brothers. It’s incredibly rewarding to see her over-the-top enthusiasm when she finally overcomes a fear and experiences something new. She is highly food-motivated and thinks obedience training is so much fun. She’s the first to load up for a car ride and absolutely lights up for any kind of adventure. Playing frisbee? So much fun. Going to the dog park to see her friends? So much fun. Visiting the fieldhouse for agility? Also, so much fun. When Brandie decides she likes something, her joyful hops of excitement and huge smile will absolutely put one on your face, too.

She has great recall, often following her person closely and occasionally checking in for reassurance. She sleeps in bed with her human, accepts full handling without hesitation, and is learning that cuddles can be pretty wonderful. While she still prefers calm environments, she has learned to stay relaxed during backyard BBQs, movie nights, and other at-home energetic group settings.

She still has a way to go before she’ll be fully comfortable in crowded, energetic public places like bars or restaurants. However, her off-leash confidence at parks and on walking trails has significantly improved—especially when she’s focused on games like frisbee or mimicking her foster brothers’ behavior.

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Personality Highlights

• Cuddle Bug – Loves snuggling in bed, resting her head on your lap, and soaking up affection
• Joyful & Enthusiastic – Greets each new experience with bouncy excitement and full-body wiggles
• Gentle & Submissive – No fear aggression or defensive behaviors
• Velcro in Public – Clings to her trusted human for confidence and comfort
• Loves Jogging – Sometimes thinks she’s a sled dog, happily trotting by your side
• Dog Social – Plays respectfully and joyfully with other friendly dogs
• Adventure Buddy – First to load up in the car, always ready to go somewhere new
• Enthusiastic About Learning New Skills – Loves to play Frisbee!
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Strengths

Affectionate once bonded
Nose boops to ask for attention
Potty trained – No indoor accidents
Calm and steady on leash
Fully crate trained – No barking or chewing
Dog-friendly – Gentle and social
Grooming-friendly – Tolerates baths, brushing, and nail trims
Loves water and swimming
Non-destructive indoors
Doesn’t dig or jump fences
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Weaknesses

Slightly skittish – Still learning to handle new situations with confidence
Stranger-alert barks – Will bark when unfamiliar people approach
Easily startled by household noises

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Training & Manners

Crate trained – Calm and quiet in her crate
Leash trained – Especially enjoys evening walks
House trained – Accident-free indoors
Basic obedience
No aggression issues
Tolerates full handling
Great recall once bonded
Rides great in a car
Currently enjoys free roam in the house, yard, & car

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Social

Brandie gets along beautifully with calm, respectful dogs and enjoys games of chase and soft wrestling—especially with flirty male dogs. At the dog park, she tends to stay near her human but is beginning to explore more and engage with new dogs. That said, she typically prefers a game of frisbee or ball with her person over socializing with other dogs.

She has shown no reactivity or aggression toward people, dogs, cats, or other animals. She can be nervous around preschool-aged children and is still gaining confidence in the presence of strangers. In public places like outdoor malls or patios, she’ll calmly sit under a table and observe her surroundings with quiet curiosity. New visuals and sounds can still startle her, but she recovers quickly.

On- and off-leash in large outdoor public areas, she is fairly confident—especially when focused on a game of frisbee or ball. Her confidence is still growing, but her willingness to take on new adventures is undeniable.

She can quickly become comfortable in new places when accompanied by someone she trusts, such as hotels or family members’ homes. At home, she may be cautious around new guests but typically warms up with time and will engage socially. On repeat visits, she’s confident, relaxed, and welcoming.

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Sport

Brandie has both the structure and lineage for sport—one of her littermates is currently excelling in agility, and her great aunt competed in the World Frisbee Finals. While in BCSAVE’s care, she has developed strong toy and food motivation. On the disc field, she knows her basic directional commands and is confidently catching 50-yard throws out of the air.

She joins her foster brothers weekly at agility practice, where she is gradually building confidence on the equipment. She also loves the water, and her growing toy drive suggests strong potential for dock diving. As her confidence and drive have increased, her natural herding instinct has started to emerge. While not as intense as some working-line Border Collies, she does show promise for herding-style sport work.

Though not currently in formal sport training, Brandie would likely thrive in a home interested in light recreational sport—whether it be disc, agility, dock, or herding games—as she continues to grow.

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Home Life

Brandie is calm, clean, and respectful inside the home. She’s fully crate trained and often enjoys free roam without issue—no chewing, no accidents. She sleeps through the night on the bed or next to it and prefers to stay close during the day. She self-entertains with toys and bones both in the house and yard, especially when she has a dog friend to romp with. She rarely barks—except for the occasional late-night possum patrol.

Brandie is polite with furniture and typically waits to be invited up before hopping on. She has no resource guarding issues around food, toys, or dog beds and coexists peacefully in multi-dog spaces. During work-from-home hours, she settles quietly and will subtly stand at the door to let you know when she needs to go out.

She waits for permission before exiting doors, and with no fencing in the front yard, she still stays close—never crossing the road or wandering off. She easily loads and unloads from the car with a simple command and adjusts well to new routines.
Brandie seamlessly transitions between calm indoor companion and eager outdoor adventurer, adapting beautifully to the pace and lifestyle of her person.

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Brandie’s Perfect Forever Home

Companion to a confident, slightly older male dog
Primary owner is a female experienced with Border Collies or herding breeds
Patient, structured home with understanding of fearful/sensitive dogs
Calm household that offers daily enrichment and gentle guidance
Someone who will let her snuggle, train, and tag along for all the fun
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What Wouldn’t Be Ideal

Chaotic, high-traffic, or unpredictable households
First-time dog owners
Households expecting fast bonding or performance
Apartment living without safe yard access
Environments without structure, patience, or mentorship
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Why Brandie is Special

Brandie is a true “heart dog”—gentle, intuitive, and endlessly loving
She’s smart, sensitive, and full of goofy enthusiasm once she trusts you
She has the potential for sport, the temperament for companionship, and the heart of a best friend
With patience and love, she will become the kind of once-in-a-lifetime dog people never forget

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Ready to Give Brandie the Peaceful Home She Deserves?
Let’s help this sweet cowgirl find the safe and loving home she’s been waiting for.